Lamp-guard handle



May 27, 1930. D. WOODHEAD LAMP GUARD HANDLE Filed Aug. 2, 1928 $206 72??? @707 z: L WC-cr/ 662d Patented May 27, 1930 DANIEL WOODHEAD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LAMP-GUARD HANDLE Application filed August 2, 1828. Serial No. 296,999.

My invention relates to lamp guard handles, and the object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for sealing the inside of the handle against vapors,

6 acids, gases and water.

It is common to provide guards for portable electric. lamps. In a common form of lamp guard, wires are employed to enclose the lamp, and these wires are secured to a rubber or other handle by suitable means,

such as ring clamps.

It is desirable, of course, to prevent liquids or gases from reaching the lamp base or the electric connectors issuing therefrom,

and the purpose of my invention is to accomplish this in a simple and efiective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for gripping the supply conductors above the point where the are connected to the lamp base, thus relieving the terminals of strain due to tension on the supply conductors or lamp cord.

T accomplish these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a side view of a lamp guard and handle embodying my invention, the same being shown assembled upon a lamp;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the axis of the device, showing the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is a distributed view of the sealing and connecting elements which form the basis of the invention; and

Fig. 4; is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

In the form of device selected to illustrate the invention, the handle is oil-rubber and comprises a socket portion 10 which forms the body of the device and constitutes a receptacle for the lamp base 12. Tn this particular form the handle has a flange 14 which is internally screw-threaded tor co-operating with the screw-threaded base of the globe 16 which protects the lamp bulb 18 in known manner. The protecting wires 20 are secured to the body of the handle by means of clamping rings 22, The ring 22 encircles the fiange l l and holds it in close, vapor-tight contact with the globe. The clamping rin or collar 24 encircles the body 10 of the ban 1e and serves to keep it in close contact with the collars 26 formed on the base of the lamp socket.

In practice, electric conductors 28 issue from-the butt end of the lamp socket, these conductors sometimes being enclosed in an insulating sheath 30. This may be referred to as the lamp cord or extension cord.

Extending rearward from the body 10 is the stem 32 of the handle, which is usually of smaller diameter than the body of the handle and is centrally apertured to accommodate the conductors.

Attempts have been made, without success so far as I know, to prevent gases and liquids from creeping along the lamp cord into the cavity 84 within the body of the device. The problem, while apparently simple, presents dificulties well understood by those having experience with such devices. The handle, being of rubber, is subject to deterioration under the action of certain gases and vapors, as well as oil, the latter tending to soften the rubber. llf these or other fluids gain access to the interior of the handle, they remain there and cause rapid deterioration without the fact becoming apparent until it is too late.

According to my improvement, a metallic nut 36 of hexagonal or other outline is molded within the rubber handle a short distance from the rear end thereof Tn practice, it may be a quarter oi an inch, more or less, from the outer end of the nut, thus leaving a flange 38 of rubber overlying the nut, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This nut is designed to receive the threaded stem 40 of a stufling box 42 formed of bronze or other metal. The outer diameter of the stufing box is greater than the diameter of the stem, thus forming a shoulder a l which, when the parts are assembled, screws down tightly upon the flange 38 and forms a seal between the nut and the stufiing box. It is desirable to make the threads loose enough so that the stufitin box will rotate "freely without creating muc tendency to rotate the nut. The result is till that when the parts are screwed up tight, with the stern of the stuffing box in the nut, there will be little tendency to rotate the nut, but the rubber flange 38 can be tightly compressed between the nut and the body of the stufiing box. After the manner of stui fing boxes, a gland or stufling box nut 46 screws into the stuffing box in the usual manher, and the connection is made tight by means of a ring or gasket 48 screwing down on to packing 50. as shown in Fig. 2.

In practice, when the clamping rings or collars 22, 24 are tightened, there will be an efiective seal between the rubber and the globe 16 and lamp socket 12. This takes care of the connections at the forward end of the handle. At the rear end of the handle, by first screwing the stufiing box stem into the nut 36, a tight seal can be made between the stufiing box and the handle, the flange 38 serving as a gasket for perfecting the seal. Finally, by screwing the nut 46 into the stufiing box. a tight seal will be effected between the stufling box and the lamp cord. This not only prevents oil or other liquid or gases'from creeping along the lamp cord into the interior of the handle, but it also produces a gripping action of the packing 50 against the sides of the lamp cord, with the result that if the lamp cord is jerked or pulled there is no danger that the conductors will be pulled loose from their connection with the lamp base.

My device has proven, under adverse working conditions, to be highly eifective, durable and simple to operate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lamp guard handle of resilient material having a nut embedded near the rear end thereof, and means surrounding the cord for gripping the same, said means screwing into the nut to be thereby secured to the handle.

2. A lamp guard handle having a nut embedded therein. gripping means surrounding and gripping the lamp cord, and means for coupling together the gripping means and the nut.

3. A lamp guard handle having a stufiing box surrounding the lamp cord, said stuffing box having a shoulder facing the lamp guard handle, and means embedded within the handle for drawing the stufiing box toward the rear end of the handle to cause the shoulder to bear against the same and effect a seal.

4. A lamp guard handle .of resilient material having a nut embedded therein at a redetermined distance from the rear end 0 the handle whereby a flange is formed between the rear surface of the nut and the rear end of the handle, and a stufling box screwing into said nut and having a shoulder for engaging the flange at the rear end of the handle.

5. A lamp guard handle of resilient material having a nut embedded near its rear end whereby a portion of the material of the handle overlies the rear surface of the nut, a stufling box havin a stem with a loose running thread screwing into the nut whereby the rotation of the box is without important efiect to rotate the nut and causes the stufiing box to be drawn towards the nut, the stutfing box having a surface facing forward to en age the material of the handle which over ice the nut, packing within the box and a stufling nut. screwing into the box for efiectin a tight seal between the cord and the stu g box.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DANIEL WOODHEAD. 

